A mythic creature has begun to surface in the heart of Golden Gate Park. A radiant, 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sea serpent named Naga—first unveiled at Burning Man 2024—is close to completing its installation at Rainbow Falls along the JFK Promenade on San Francisco’s Golden Mile.

Celebrate this magical new installation with a family-friendly celebration on Saturday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to noon. It will feature a mermaid parade, sea shanties, temporary tattoos and whimsical fun.

Return for the Naga grand lighting celebration on Monday, July 28 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with music, dancing, and a shimmering countdown to light up Naga under the stars. Costumes encouraged!

The project is made possible through a partnership between Illuminate and Rec and Park, as well as initial support from the Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180. To learn more about the installation and these free events, click the link below. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Sunset Dunes open house this past weekend. Rec and Park staff met with participants in small groups to discuss interim improvements at Sunset Dunes, as well as the process to create the future park.

In case you missed it, you can provide feedback through our Sunset Dunes survey, which is now live and open through the end of the year. So far, we've received more than 200 responses. We will also have a second open house on Saturday, September 27. For more information and to stay up to date, click the link below. 

TIckets are now available for the 10th anniversary of Flower Piano, returning to the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) from September 12 to 21. Presented by Sunset Piano, the Gardens of Golden Gate Park, and Rec and Park, this one-of-a-kind music festival invites visitors to explore 12 pianos placed throughout 55 acres of garden paths and plant collections. More than 100 performers will take part, including Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Dred Scott and Cali Mambo, Tammy Hall, Sarah Cahill and many more. There will also be special opening event Friday, September 12 in the Flower Piano Lounge. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has announced its first set of artists! Golden Gate Park's free fall music festival, taking place from October 3 to 5, will feature The String Cheese Incident, Lucinda Williams, Reverend Horton Heat and more. For more information and to stay up-to-date on artist announcements, click the link below.

July is National Park and Recreation Month, and this year’s theme is “Build Together, Play Together.” We're in the dog days of summer, and our camps are in full swing. We're happy to share that we have more than 4,000 youth in our summer camps, including nearly 1,200 campers supported by $1.2 million in scholarships. Additional stats from our campers playing together include: 

The most important stat is the countless number of friendships made. We look forward to finishing out the summer strong! 

The San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program's 10, 12, 14, and 16U teams have been competing in the Baseball For All National Tournament in Sparks, Nevada, which started on Monday, July 21.

The Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program of Rec and Park was founded in 2015 by former women’s baseball players Rachelle "Rocky" Henley and Alex Oglesby with the desire to field an all-girls team to represent San Francisco in the inaugural Baseball For All National Tournament. 

Now in its 10th year, the program is hoping to bring home some hardware for San Francisco, with the 16U team competing for third place and 14U playing for gold in their respective divisions tomorrow. Stay up to date on the tournament at the link below.

The Golden Gate Park Concerts series and Outside Lands Music Festival are just around the corner, starting with Dead and Company from August 1 to 3. Please note that meadow and road closures in Golden Gate Park have begun to accommodate the load in for the concerts. See the map above for bike and car detours in the park. For more information and to stay up to date, click the link below.

The north entrance to the San Francisco Botanical Garden is closed for approximately a month as part of phase 2 of the Botanical Garden Access Improvements Project. Visitors should use the main entrance at 9th Avenue for the duration of this phase.The five-phase project is expected to be completed by late 2025. 

Ongoing work at the garden also includes pathway improvements in the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest area, such as paving, ramp installation and new handrails. Visitors should follow posted signs and watch for pathway closures and detours.

The Great Meadow restrooms are also closed for remodeling. Portable toilets are available on the north side of the Great Meadow, and restrooms remain open at the north entrance. For more information about the project, click the link below.

Come out for a meeting on the proposed community garden at Kimbell Playground (1901 Geary Boulevard) on Saturday, July 26 at 1 p.m. at the Hamilton Recreation Center (1900 Geary Blvd) multipurpose room. Explore design ideas, share your input, and help shape the future of this new green space. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. 

Thank you to everyone who attended our community meeting for the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project earlier this month. You can see the meeting presentation at this link.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, our project survey is now live. Public spaces are for all, and your input is essential to ensure the project reflects the needs and priorities of the community. Share your thoughts with us by filling out the survey at the link below, which is open through Tuesday, July 29.

As we hit the dog days of summer, it means that we're in the midst of coyote pupping season. While coyotes are generally wary of humans, parent coyotes may become territorial if you or your pet stumbles upon their den. 

To foster a safe coexistence between yourself and our natural neighbors, please take the following precautions:

If you encounter a coyote, slowly back away carrying any small children or pets. Do not run. You may also scare the coyote away by appearing large and making loud noises.

If you encounter a coyote or see someone putting out food for a coyote, report it to Animal Care and Control (ACC) at (415) 554-9400, or by email at acc@sfgov.org.

For more information, visit ACC's coyote page at the link below.

Photo credit: Nick Stone Schearer from “Don’t Feed the Coyotes”

Civic Center Soundtrack, a free concert series by Illuminate Live, is at Fulton Plaza (Fulton and Larkin streets) between San Francisco Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. These diverse musical performances will be held every Tuesday and Thursday. See the upcoming shows:  

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Join India Basin Waterfront Park and community partners for the Hoop 4 Peace basketball tournament—a month-long series promoting peace and unity across neighborhoods. This exciting 3-on-3 tournament features youth and adult teams from across the city competing for $2,000 grand prize.

Games are happening every Saturday through July at courts across District 10 of San Francisco including in Sunnydale, Potrero Hill, Alice Griffith (Double Rock), Hunters Point West (Oakdale), Hunters Point East/Westbrook (Harbor), and Huntersview (Westpoint).

The finals will be held on Saturday, August 2 from noon to 3 p.m. at Mission Creek Park North (401 Berry Street), where there will also be free raffles, giveaways, and family-friendly fun. To see the full tournament schedule, click the link below.

The legendary San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am basketball league has returned to Kezar Pavilion (755 Stanyan Street). The league features many talented hoopers ranging from professionals to college players, with league alumni including Steph Curry and Jason Kidd. Attend these free games throughout the summer with the next game on Thursday, July 24 beginning at 8 p.m. For more information including the full schedule, click the link below. 

Join Cloud Surfin and the India Basin Waterfront Park project partners for their Poetry on the Bay event on Friday, July 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at the park (900 Innes Avenue). It will feature spoken word performances by local artists including Poe Rich, So Vicious and San Quinn, as well as refreshments and a raffle. Come out for an afternoon of magic and unity!

Interested in performing? Email mrprincedean@gmail.com. For more information, click the link below.

All the Way Live Foundation's Hip Hop on the Plaza is at Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets) on Friday, July 25 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. It will feature a breaking workshop followed by a dance session. For more information, click the link below.

Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. See the upcoming shows:  

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Join the San Francisco Orchid Society for its Orchids in the Park summer sale at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Ave.) in Golden Gate Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. Shop for orchids and other plants from local and international nurseries, enjoy demos at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. both days, and bring kids 12 and under for free with a paid adult. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below. 

The Whale's Tail outdoor garden bar is in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays, Sundays, and select Monday holidays from noon to 6 p.m. 

Located off of the JFK Promenade just west of the Rose Garden at the 14th Avenue East Meadow, this family- and dog-friendly spot transforms into a vibrant weekend destination with drinks, lawn games, public art, and curated local food trucks.

It also hosts live music, with this weekend's lineup featuring:

There will also be free yoga at the meadow at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26.

The Whale's Tail is a collaboration between Rec and Park, Non Plus Ultra, and Illuminate. For more information, click the link below. 

Join community partners in celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse on Saturday, July 26 from noon to 4 p.m. This free event will feature fun activities, prizes and resources to learn about accessible transportation options in San Francisco. It will take place in the concourse at 1 Bowl Drive, next to the 44 bus stop. 

Come out for the Elk Street Mural community celebration on Saturday, July 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) picnic tables. Meet the mural artist Sirron Norris and enjoy light snacks, a short program, and a creative activity for all ages. It'll be a hoot! For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. 

Join the Francisco Park Conservancy for a community yoga class at Francisco Park (Bay and Larkin streets) on Sunday, July 27 from 10 to 11 a.m. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, or towel and meet on the lawn for some morning movement. This event is open to the community with all levels welcome. For more information, click the link below.

Join the Golden Gate Park Band for its Kids Concert on Sunday, July 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive). This annual concert will feature music from The Wizard of Oz, How to Train Your Dragon, Sesame Street and more! The show will also feature special guest conductor Craig Bryant. For more information, click the link below.

San Francisco tennis players, advanced beginners through intermediate, are invited to play in the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco's (TCSF) Sunday afternoon doubles workshop series. The sessions will be led by TCSF board member Sean Dizon. Sean is a private instructor, as well as an assistant coach with the St. Ignatius College Preparatory School. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the USF Tennis Team. 

For more information and to register for the next social on Sunday, July 27 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Crocker Amazon Playground courts (Moscow Street and Amazon Avenue), click the link below.

Head over to Noe Valley Town Square (3861 24th Street) for the expanded night market on Tuesday, July 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. The night market spans the full block of 24th Street between Sanchez and Vicksburg streets. Join neighbors, local vendors and performers in the square for an evening of community, music and summer fun. For more information, click the link below.

Come dig, smell, taste, build, and explore with the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) on Bean Sprouts Family Days presented by Kaiser Permanente. Come out for family fun in the Children’s Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the first Saturdays of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Programs are included with garden admission and do not require pre-registration. For more information, click the link below.

Union Square Plaza (333 Post Street) is your 2025 destination for fun, free outdoor programming. There’s something happening every day through October 20. See the weekly schedule: 

For more information, click the link below.

Check out all of the amazing drop-in activities and scheduled classes available at the reimagined UN Plaza and surrounding Civic Center area.

From the Heart of the City Farmers' Market at Fulton Plaza to free skateboarding lessons at UN Plaza, we have something for everyone to get out and play in San Francisco's core. See the workout class schedule from Rae Studios at UN Plaza, as well as the full amenity list and schedule at the link below.

Join the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for its 11th Annual Art and Pride exhibit, “Unapologetically Queer,” a bold showcase curated by Nicola Bosco-Alvarez. It lasts through July 31, amplifying queer voices in a time of resistance and visibility. This community exhibit features artwork from more than 62 artists, the largest Art and Pride exhibit to date at the center. For more information, click the link below.

Check out the indoor archery ranges at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street) and Moscone Recreation Center (180 Chestnut Avenue) that are open for the summer! Mission Rec is open on Wednesdays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Moscone Rec on Fridays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. There will be paper and 3D targets with all bow and arrow types welcome. Equipment for loan will also be available. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below.

San Francisco's free Adaptive Bike Program is back in Golden Gate Park.

In partnership with BORP, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, we're providing free adaptive bikes for use on a first come, first served basis in the park on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the summer and fall months.

They will be available at the Music Concourse behind the Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) and next to the accessible parking lot. 

For more information, contact BORP Cycling Center at (510) 848-2930 or email sfcycling@borp.org.

Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) is hosting a free drop-in wheelchair basketball session every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. in partnership with BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation. All ages are welcome. You don't have to have a mobility disability to participate, but you must be able to maneuver a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available for participants at least 5 feet tall. Let's hoop!

For more information, click the link below.

Join the Friends of Sunset Dunes for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities, from chair yoga to live music, will be hosted four times a month. The next program will be Mat Yoga on Sunday, July 27 from noon to 1 p.m. at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street. For more information, click the link below.

The San Francisco Public Library invites you to visit the Bookmobile at the JFK Promenade. Every Monday through August 11, you can find the library on wheels at the corner of JFK Promenade and Conservatory Drive, west of the Conservatory of Flowers, from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop by to browse books, borrow materials, and take part in free activities for all ages. For more information, click the link below.

Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for Tuesday movie nights! The next will take place on July 29 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1995 film "A Goofy Movie." Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these films. For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007.

San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) is hosting summer bird walks, with the next taking place on Saturday, August 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lands End Coastal Trail. Meet in the El Camino del Mar Parking Lot at the USS San Francisco Memorial. SFNE volunteers will lead these walks, offering one program for children ages 5 to 12 (accompanied by a parent or guardian), and another for youth and adults ages 13 and up. For more information and to register for these field trips, click the link below.

Rec and Park is accepting submissions for its free Glen Park Rec Short Film Festival, which will take place at the Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) on Friday, October 10 at 6 p.m. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 31 at 11:59 p.m. To submit your film or for additional information, email conor.casey@sfgov.org.

Our Video of the Week comes TPC Harding Park and highlights the centennial celebration of this renowned golf course. The event featured a golf tournament, as well giveaways, commemorative gear, signature cocktails and championship vibes. We look forward to another hundred 100 years of drives, putts, and chips at the top municipal golf course in the country! Book your tee time and learn more at the link below. 

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